Web Design Research
What I like about web pages is the pure simplicity within the page, when web pages have loads of breathing space it makes the page look clean and professional. The web page above has everything a portfolio page should have using the most minimalist style possible, this is something I would like to achieve with my own web page. The main feature on this page is the icon within the white box, its most likely to be a logo of some sort but acts as the pages main feature, most current port folio web pages have an illustration, logo or an introduction to give the viewer a feel for the person and their work.
Another very simple webpage but what I like about this one is how one image have covered the whole background of the page this then allows the white colour in text to sit nicely on top of the page, in my personal opinion it looks very clean and professional. The one image may have some relation to the designer and what his/hers work is about.
A designers web page should be personal to the designer and give the slight feel of the personality of the designer, in some cases like the page above the designers have used images of themselves. The page above have also used headings like "Get your drinks up" this gives the viewer a feel as to what the designer is like and what they are about without even having to have met the person. Even with the humour within the page it still looks professional but also quirky.
Some web pages have introductions which is a small paragraph with some small information about the designer and what sort of designing they specify in, in some cases this can be the main feature and design of the page exactly like the page above shows. Ive noticed that many portfolio web pages are quirky I believe this is to show that the the person is more than just a plain bland designer but also a creative and fun individual. The way in which the designer designs the page (style) can tell you a lot about the individual as it may relate to the style of work they do, or may simply be about their life interests.
I found that most portfolio pages had the tabs such as "home" "about me" "portfolio" etc were found at the top center of the page which allowed space for an illustration and or introduction and gave easy navigation across the page. In the web layout above they designer has gone for a different approach where the navigation tabs are found at the right side of the page, this shows me that I can have the layout of my page different and not as standard.
This page above does not look much like a portfolio site as there is quite a lot of information on the page and not much design, the only feature on this page that gives it the idea that its for a portfolio is the introduction at the top center of the page. This goes to show that a web page has not always got to be design and illustration filled but simple type graphics can be just as effective.
I very much like the idea of using an image of myself for the main feature on the introduction page, simply because a simple expression or action gives the viewer an idea as to what you are about and also makes the viewer see you more as a plain designer which has a boring personality. I think this gives the designer an overall better design because they are designing for their own specifications and not designing around a target audience of any kind.
What I like about this web design is how it jumps out to the viewer with the "Ahoi human" again this gives a quirky and fun entry to the page but also reaches out to the viewer as an individual and also gives relation to the design which is on the page.
Conclusion
In conclusion to my web research ive found that many websites for portfolio use are uniquely designed for the preferences of the individual. There isnt no target audience as such but you design it pretty much how you want and your personality should show through design. Many of the sites used pictures of themselves which followed with some information about the person and what types of design they did. This made me realise what sorts of design I could do and there is no limits.
Carter Wong
This the website for Carter Wong, Carter Wong is a design company which have created some of the most recognisable brand identities and publish their work on this site. The Carter Wong site can be aimed at various people, anything from a fellow designer that take an interest in good design but companies might also view this page as they may want to contact them for some design help.
In terms of function I found that the page was quite easily navigational the main links such as Home, News, About, Project and contact were found on the top left of the page and when they were clicked a smaller tab come down with subheadings within each subject, I found this easy to use and efficient. One thing I didn't like about the navigation within the page was the clicking of the left arrow to navigate across the screen, at first I was not aware that this was said at the bottom of the page.
The user group in my opinion would find this site to be quite to the point as the navigation is very easy and the work within the company are easily viewable. Depending on what the user needs from the website the contact tab makes it very easy for the user to contact the company. Another thing I found within the design on the page is that there is quite a lot of space that could have been used and there is also a left and right arrow scroller used for navigation which is simpler than a up and down mouse scroller as you only have to click 2 keys on the keyboard to navigate the page.
I think the use of type within this website has been used very well, the tone and voice of the type is very subtle when used in headings and subheadings but when type was used to speak about the company itself a more quirky personality type typeface was used, I think this works really well as it does not effect the overall view of the page but at the same time is very simple and to the point and does exactly what it needs. Colours are used in contrast to the work that is being shown, if an image shown has a more dominant colour that same colour will be used along side the image, I think this gives the page some depth and makes it all that bit more quirky.
Pentagram
The Pentagram site is a design company which show the works that they have done and showcase that work on this site. People that may view this site could be your everyday designer looking for some inspiration in his/her work. Other people that may view this page could be companies looking for a design company to design their products, website etc.
In terms of page function the Pentagram site is very too the point as their home page does not even have an introduction but has thumbnail size images of the work they have done for the company. Something I like within viewing the companies work is the choice of viewing the work in new and old, alphabetically and chronologically this gives the viewer the choice of how to view the companies work which enhances the accessibility. When a company has been chosen another page comes up with the work and design within that given company.
I believe the user group would find this page very useful and easy to use as the site is very to the point with work covering the whole page. This allows the users to see exactly what the company does and what they are about also when a company is selected another screen appears with some more pictures on their works and some brief information, this is exactly what the user group would want to see. Another thing I liked within the design on the page was the central scroll tab, this allowed to see more work and navigate the page with ease.
Within the website there isn't much type used as a whole but is used effectively to give the user the feel that the page is very easy to use and highly functional. The only pieces of type that had colour in them was the Pentagram logo itself and the about, partners,offices and new this gave these tabs more importance of the surrounding text.
Pearlfisher
This is the website for the design company Pearlfisher, this website showcases as a portfolio with the work they have designed for various companies. Again the Pearlfisher site is aimed at general people who like design but also to companies, companies that need a design team to create something for them, the way the style that the page is designed is so that potential clients can view the page very easily and make a choice.
In terms of page function I really liked Pearlfishers page, everything was very easy to use and I had no difficulties in navigating the page and the layout made the page look very professional and clean cut. This would give the feel to the viewer that Pearlfisher is a very precise design company and also very professional. I also think the way in which the work has been presented adds to the overall design of the page.
The user group would find this site very easy to use and straight to the point, the work that pearlfisher have done is on the left side and has the name of the work and company that will be viewed. The only thing I think the users would have trouble with is the small arrows which when clicked scroll to the next piece of work, personally I would have the arrow keys more visible and slightly bigger. I think the type on this page has been used appropriately as its very light and easy on the eye. Having type at a small point size insists that its expensive clean and professional, the colour of the type also sits very nicely on the white background.
NB Studio
This is the NB studio homepage, NB studio is a design company which have designed for some very big named companies such as Waitrose, John Lewis and Mothercare, This site showcases their work in hopes of getting more clients. This site is aimed at designers in general but also companies seeking help within the creation and design side of their business.
Page function within the NB Studio site is fairly easy to use, the navigation tabs are on the left side of the page. When clicked thumbnail size images come up with the clients, when the companies come up it comes up with the work NB Studios have designed within that company. The thing I didn't like about this was that you had to scroll down to view their work which was quite annoying, I dont think this was easy to use and just made things more awkward as you had to scroll down quite a lot to view all the pieces of work.
I think the user group would find this site relatively easy to use, as everything is named and when clicked brings up an easy navigation menu, my only concern is that the users would not like the idea of the scroll down bar as there is quite a lot of work to be viewed within certain clients, the work should have been presented as a slidshow or something similar.
The typeface used is very light and subtle and not over the top, it works well with the overall page and also insists that the company are professional. The type size is also used appropriately depending on what the type is used for. There isnt much colour used on the page other than the white and grey, the only other colours used are those of that in company logos which NB studio has designed for, perhaps implying that they always put the company first?
Johnson Banks
This is the site of the design company Johnson Banks, this site is used to showcase the work the company have done in hopes of getting more clients for the company. This site is aimed at the average designer which is seeking inspiration but also aimed at companies who may need various aspects in their company changed or designed. The way the site is also presented gives the feel of a company that are very creative and think outside the box, the design of the site is very different to those in the other sites I have analised.
The page function within the Johnson Banks site might come across more complicated than the other sites, simply because its more designed filled, at the same time once you gather how to navigate the page it will become easy. Parts of text on the home page are highlighted in various colours e.g Identity&Brand, Logo's etc . When these are clicked it takes you to another page with the work within that description. The only thing I didnt like was that I had to scrolls down to view the work on the page which in my opinion isnt as professional as having the work as a slidshow or in a transition.
As the user group are going to be mostly designers, I think they would find it quite easy yo navigate through the pages and appreciate that it is in a more design filled manner. This site is different from most in terms of layout as they havent gone for the typical style of minimal. The typeface is very light and easy on the eye, it makes the page feel settled and not too over the top as their is a design element to the page also. I really like the simple colours the page has used they work really well together and give the page a more fun filled element and not boring.
Jake Tilson
This is the site for the designer Jake Tilson, this site has all of Jake Tilsons work as an online portfolio but also sells works that he has designed. This site would be aimed at the general designer but those that also those who are interested in his work. Something I really dont like about the Jake Tilson page is how its laid out, everything seems really clustered and cramped, this makes the page look really cheap and as if not much effort has been put into it.
In terms of navigation, I think this site is the hardest to navigate as I wasnt sure what I was clicking, weather it was work from a company or something on view. And when I hovered the cursor over the image the image vanished and it didnt seem as if I could click it, but when it was clicked another menu come up viewing the work but again I really disliked the way it was laid out.
I think even the user group would find this difficult to use as everything is over the place and there isnt any order to things, you kind of have to guess what you have to do. Although the style of the page is completly different I really dont like the way its laid out, the page looks clustered and the colours which are used on the page do not go together. In terms of type used on the site its abit all over the place and there is no consistency used with the flow of pages, type seems to be all over the page left right and center.
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